New chapter for Authors CC and Chance to Shine

Chance to Shine is delighted to announce, on World Book Day, a new partnership with the Authors Cricket Club, a nomadic side of writers and one poet who share a love of cricket. Today also sees the launch of a competition where teachers who sign up to Chance to Shine's free Schools' Portal before Sunday 15 April will be in with a chance of winning a visit from one of the authors during this year's Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week.

The first Authors side saw PG Wodehouse, Arthur Conan Doyle and AA Milne play the Actors each year at Lord's. The current team includes Sebastian Faulks, Tom Holland, Amol Rajan (pictured), Peter Frankopan, Jonathan Wilson, Kamila Shamsie, William Fiennes, Anthony McGowan, Nicholas Hogg and Dan Norcross.

Over the last six years they have played the national teams of Japan and Iceland, faced the Vatican home and away (presenting Pope Francis with his own Authors cap) and opened the Jaipur literary festival with a T20 against a Rajasthan Royals XI. They have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

The Authors will sport the Chance to Shine logo on their kit throughout the summer as well as holding a special fundraising match on behalf of the charity. Throughout the summer, the Authors will also be supporting Chance to Shine's mission to help children play and learn through cricket with visits to primary schools across the country.

Charlie Campbell, Captain of the Authors XI (pictured in action), said: "I'm thrilled that the Authors will be supporting Chance to Shine's incredible work, which is needed now more than ever."

Chance to Shine is also delighted to today announce that supporter Rachael Wong will be releasing a new book based on grassroots cricket to be published in the summer. The book will be a follow up to Rachael's second book Class 10's Chance to Shine that was published on World Book Day 2017 and a copy of which was kindly donated by Rachael to every Chance to Shine primary school in the country.

Speaking about the new book, Rachael said: "This story touches on the themes of mindfulness, resilience and the sometimes-underrated art of just being yourself! I want the book to try and reflect the wide range of strategies children can use to help them overcome difficulties, from the traditional to more recent introductions to the classroom such as mindfulness. I want children to feel reassured that they can try different strategies and then find out what works best for them as an individual."

Chance to Shine recently launched a new Schools' Portal that provides teachers with a free set of digital resources to help teach cricket on the playground but also in the classroom with cricket-themed Literacy and Numeracy lessons. You can register for free by clicking here.

Gifts to the charity are currently being doubled thanks to the support of Chance to Shine Patron Adrian Beecroft. With your help, we can continue to spread the power of cricket to state schools and disadvantaged communities throughout England and Wales.

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Chance to Shine has built a powerful bank of free cricket teaching resources for primary schools so teachers can lead their own cricket sessions. The resources include lesson plans, instructional videos and top tips.

Chance to Shine is a national cricket charity that works in state schools and communities to spread the power of cricket. We believe that all children should be given the opportunity to play and learn through cricket.
We believe that cricket teaches children valuable skills like communication, teamwork and respect that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Chance to Shine work in state primary schools across England and Wales supporting schools to deliver cricket coaching to their pupils. We teach cricket in primary schools and support teachers with free resources including lesson plans, videos and tips from the professionals.

Chance to Shine is an independent charity that works to spread the power of cricket in schools and communities across the country. Set up as the Cricket Foundation, the charity aims to provide opportunities in state schools and deprived communities.

We provide competition opportunities for children in state secondary schools. We have also developed a set of digital resources for teachers. Chance to Shine will also deliver a girls' cricket programme in secondary schools, training young leaders and developing life skills through playing the sport.